Tomorrow, Lily and I will be leading a Kids Contra Jam at NEFFA (2pm in the Sudbury room!). We'll be playing off of Lily's tune list, but someone was asking about chords. I decided to have a go at writing out the simplest acceptable chords for each of the tunes we're planning. Each letter represents two downbeats:

All the Rage

A: 𝄆 E E A B 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 A A B B 𝄇 x4

Lisnagun

𝄆 G G C D 𝄇 x8

Devil's Dream

𝄆 D D A E 𝄇 x8

Reign of Love

A: 𝄆  Em Em C D 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆  Em Em C C
D  D  C C 𝄇

June Apple

A: 𝄆 A A G G
    A A G D 𝄇
B: 𝄆  A A G D 𝄇 x4

Dancing Bear

𝄆 Em Em C C
  D  D  B B 𝄇 x4

can play B7 for B if that's easier

The Wren

A: 𝄆 Em C D D 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 C  C D D 𝄇 x4

Haaplevese

A: 𝄆 D D G A 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 D G A A 𝄇 x4

Trip to Moscow

𝄆 Am Am C C
  G  G  D D 𝄇 x4

Road to Boston

A: 𝄆 D D G A 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 D D G G
D D A A 𝄇 x4

Coleman's March

A: 𝄆 D G D A
     D G A A 𝄇
B: 𝄆 D D D D
     G G A A 𝄇

Sandy Boys

A: 𝄆 A A A G 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 A A A A
     G G G G 𝄇

Angeline the Baker

𝄆 D D D G
  D D D A 𝄇 x4

Liza Jane

A: 𝄆 A A A D
     A A E A 𝄇
B: 𝄆 A A A D
     E E E A 𝄇

Mairi's Wedding

𝄆 G G C D 𝄇 x8

Cluck Old Hen

A: 𝄆 A A A G 𝄇 x8

Cripple Creek

A: 𝄆 A A D E 𝄇 x8

Bile 'Em Cabbage Down

𝄆 D G D A
  D G A A 𝄇

Four of these are just "𝄆 I I IV V 𝄇": a good first guess for a major tune!

I'll have these there in person as well on handouts.

Note that normally you'd be doing different chords each time through, and they'd been more complex (more).

[EDIT 2026-05-03: The version of these chords that I'm keeping updated as I make further improvements and tweak the set of songs is in this Google Doc]